Tips on tackling DIY home projects

It will not always be as easy as it looks on TV

Laying tile may be a more advanced project to do in your home, so be sure you know exactly what you're doing before pursuing. (Amanda Fries / Times Union)

If you want to get creative with painting in a room, install your own wainscoting. The first step is painting the walls the color scheme you want to go with. (Amanda Fries / Times Union)

If you want to get creative with painting in a room, install your own wainscoting. We used varying widths of planks for the do-it-yourself wainscoting. After the wood is sanded, it's time to paint. Depending on what kind of paint you get, you'll want to apply several coats. Three coats did the trick for hiding any knots or blemishes in the planks. (Amanda Fries / Times Union)

If you want to get creative with painting in a room, install your own wainscoting. We used varying widths of planks for the do-it-yourself wainscoting. Once you have your walls painted, measure out the wood and cut to size. (Amanda Fries / Times Union)

An easy way to update your home is a fresh coat of paint. This is after a bedroom was painted. (Amanda Fries / Times Union)

If you're thinking of doing some home renovations on your own, check yourself first.

It's not going to be easy; don't believe the HGTV hype.

If you, and others who will be assisting, work full-time jobs, the process will be slow. You won't get nearly as much done as you expect within a certain time frame. You'll encounter problems along the way, whether it be a leaky roof or cracked sewer pipe (maybe both, or more).

There will be tears of frustration (grout left on too long and now must be removed from the textured tile), tears of pain (nails puncturing the hand and ricocheting off bone) and tears of joy (a finished bathroom designed exactly how you want it).

I don't begin this on a heavy note to scare away those willing to take the dive into do-it-yourself home renovations, but to provide a realistic perspective and reassurance that when you encounter any of the above situations, you're not alone.

After purchasing a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home last year, my significant other and I knew it would need some TLC. The floor-to-ceiling lacquered knotty pine in the kitchen and closet-sized "master bathroom" certainly weren't the selling points, but we saw the potential.

It's not unlike many other homeowners in recent years.

According to HomeAdvisor's True Cost 2017 report, homeowners – particularly millennials and baby boomers – tackled more home improvement projects from 2016 through 2017 than they did from 2015 through 2016. A key difference between myself, a dubbed millennial, and others is the willingness to do it on my own.

The simple reason to do our own renovations was because it would save money. Our ability to do so, however, was more about fortunate circumstances. My father has worked in construction his entire life; he built the home I grew up in. My grandfather is a stonemason; he built the home my grandparents live in today.

Thankfully, there are plenty of projects you can take on that require less expertise.

DO check with your local building and codes departments to see if the work you're planning on doing requires permits or some type of clearance.

Any work must comply with state building code – as well as any local requirements.

"We try to apply a common-sense application of that standard wherein if you're replacing any structural supports, electrical and plumbing work, you have to come in for a permit," said Rob Magee, Albany's building and regulatory compliance director.

Permits are required for changing the use or density of a building as well, Magee said.

DON'T do new plumbing, electrical or major structural changes on your own without a professional. Any faulty work on these items can be life-threatening – think electrical fire.

DON'T jump to DIY roof replacement. There's no recourse if a problem occurs after completion, nor protection if you or a friend are injured in the process.

A major improvement you can DO on your own is adding insulation in the attic, but it must be up to state energy code. Replacing windows also can be done yourself. Both measures result in a more comfortable and energy-efficient home. But, it's important to make sure the windows you're using for replacement comply with historic district requirements when applicable.

"We see it on windows more than anything and it's not just limited to homeowners, developers too," Albany planning commissioner Chris Spencer said.

If painting the exterior of your home in a historic district, that may also require approval, he said.

Inside the home, painting is an easy DO for improvement. Our home went from dark and drab to light and calming after fresh paint in each room.

Replacing kitchen cabinetry may be a no-brainer, but consider whether you have the expertise to properly hang them. Instead, what you may DO is paint them for a fresh look while replacing the hardware.

Although minor adjustments, replacing outlets, switches and hardware on doors also can give your home a fresh look.

If you want to get creative, DO DIY wainscoting. We decided to give our guest bathroom a nautical theme, using various-sized planks. Outside of the time-consuming process of cutting, sanding and painting, this helped revamp the small space.

Tiling was another improvement we made to the bathroom. Removing the layers of linoleum and tile was effortless, but I caution pursuing tiling on your own. DON'T take on a project you don't feel 100 percent comfortable with. Flaws in home renovations can mean less return on your investment later down the line.

"A lot of homeowners may have knowledge, but don't have the skill to do some things. It's just easier to have somebody else do it," said Steve Myers, director of Clifton Park's building and zoning department. "If you have talented friends and you can do some of this stuff, fine. Most people nowadays are not the craftsmen they used to be."

Amanda Fries covers the Capitol in Albany and state government for the Times Union, focusing on the state workforce, housing, budget issues, malfeasance and other forms of corruption. She first started in June 2016 covering the city and county of Albany for the Times Union. Got a tip? Contact her at 518-454-5353 or afries@timesunion.com.